Vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner having a suction brush; a cleaner body detachably mounted on an upper portion of the suction brush and having a suction fan for generating a suction force and a dust receptacle for collecting dust therein; and first and second cable units mounted in the suction brush and the cleaner body, respectively. The first and the second cable units are connected so that electricity is applied to the suction brush when the vacuum cleaner is used with the cleaner body mounted on the upper portion of the suction brush, and disconnected so that the electricity is shut off with respect to the suction brush when only the cleaner body is used, being separated from the suction brush.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-24474, filed Mar. 24, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present invention relates to a detachable-type upright vacuum cleaner in which a cleaner body can be separated from a frame.

2. Description of the Related Art

An upright vacuum cleaner is convenient to clean a broad floor. However, since it is not handy to clean cumbersome surfaces such as a narrow space, a top surface of furniture, or a ceiling, improved upright vacuum cleaners to overcome such a defect have been introduced and disclosed in Korean Patent Registration Nos. 10-474081, 10-474083 and 10-474087 filed by the application of the present application. In the improved upright vacuum cleaners, a cleaner body can be separated from a cleaner frame so that such cumbersome surfaces can be cleaned by carrying only the cleaner body being separated.

In the above-registered detachable-type upright vacuum cleaners, a rotary brush for scattering dust on a surface being cleaned is pivotably mounted to a frame of the upright vacuum cleaner, and the cleaner body is removably connected to the frame. A suction brush has a light for user's convenience. In order to supply power for the rotary brush and the light, the suction brush and the cleaner body are electrically connected through a wiring device.

According to a conventional wiring device, an electrically wired pin is mounted in the suction brush and a socket connected with the pin is mounted with the cleaner body, so that the cleaner body and the suction brush are electrically connected by the pin and the socket.

However, as the cleaner body is separated from the suction brush by a user over and over, durability of the wiring device can be deteriorated. In other words, without a dedicated structure for supporting the electric wires connected to the pin and the socket, a load generated during separation and mounting of the cleaner body may be operated on a connection point between the electric wires of the pin and the socket, thereby breaking the connection point. Furthermore, when the plurality of pins and the sockets are assembled without any dedicated insulator, spark may be generated by short-circuit at the connection point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to provide a wiring device for a detachable-type upright vacuum cleaner, capable of preventing generation of spark by disconnection and short-circuit in spite of frequent separation and mounting between a cleaner body and a suction brush, and a detachable-type upright vacuum cleaner having the same.

In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the present invention, there is provided a vacuum cleaner of which a cleaner body is detachable comprising a suction brush, a cleaner body detachably mounted on an upper portion of the suction brush and having a suction fan for generating a suction force and a dust receptacle for collecting dust therein, and first and second cable units mounted in the suction brush and the cleaner body, respectively. The first and the second cable units are connected so that electricity is applied to the suction brush when the vacuum cleaner is used with the cleaner body mounted on the upper portion of the suction brush, and disconnected so that the electricity is shut off with respect to the suction brush when only the cleaner body is used, being separated from the suction brush. The first cable unit comprises a plurality of plug pins connected with an electric wire, a pin housing having a plurality of connection grooves disposed at certain intervals for insertion of the plug pins, and a plug supporter fixing the plug pins at the rear side of the plug pins.

The plug pins are configured in a manner so that a portion mounted in the pin housing has a larger diameter than a portion exposed to the outside of the pin housing.

The connection groove includes a support part, which supports a stepped portion formed on the outer circumference of the plug pin.

An exterior of the first cable unit, in which the plug pin, the pin housing and the plug supporter are assembled, is implemented by molding of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The second cable unit comprises a plurality of pin sockets receiving the plurality of plug pins; an outlet cover supporting one ends of the pin sockets; and a pin socket housing supporting the other ends of the pin sockets.

The outlet cover comprises a plurality of hollow depressions for receiving and fixing the pin sockets.

Three plug pins and three pin sockets are provided to supply power for different objects, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The above aspect and other features of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view extractingly showing a frame of the vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lower surface of a cleaner body, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of first and second cable units according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view showing an inner structure of the first cable unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded, perspective view showing an inner structure of the second cable unit, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing figures.

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an upright vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the upright vacuum cleaner comprises a frame 10, a suction brush 20, a cleaner body 30 and a seating guide 40.

The frame 10 constructs an exterior skeleton of the upright vacuum cleaner and has a handle 13 for a user to grip at an upper part thereof. The cleaner body 30 is connected detachably in the center portion of the frame 10.

The suction brush 20 is pivotably mounted at a lower portion of the frame 10. The suction brush 20 comprises a rotary brush 23 for separating and scattering dust on a surface being cleaned by beating the surface and a light 25 used when cleaning a dark place.

The seating guide 40 is disposed between the suction brush 20 and the cleaner body 30 so as to prevent escape of the cleaner body 30 from the frame 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the seating guide 40 comprises a first socket 41, a first communication path 42, and a supporting projection 43. The first socket 41 is equipped with a first cable unit 110 for supplying power to the rotary brush 23 and the light 25 mounted in the suction brush 20, as shown in FIG. 1.

The communication path 42 guides dust-laden air, which is drawn in through the suction brush 20 into the cleaner body 30. The supporting projection 43 supports the lower portion of the cleaner body 30 so as to prevent the cleaner body 30 from escaping from its position on the frame 10.

The cleaner body 30 detachably mounted with respect to the frame 10, includes therein a vacuum fan (not shown) generating a negative pressure and a dust receptacle. As shown in FIG. 3, the cleaner body 30 comprises a second socket 31 having a corresponding form to the first socket 41 and assembled with the first socket 41, a second communication path 32 connected with the first communication path 42, and a supporting groove 33 receiving the supporting projection 43. A second cable unit 120 is mounted at the second socket 31 in connection with a power supply unit. The second cable unit 120 is connected and disconnected with respect to the first cable unit 110 according to separation and mounting of the cleaner body 30.

In the above-structured vacuum cleaner, when the vacuum cleaner is used with the cleaner body 30 mounted at an upper portion of the suction brush 20, the suction brush 20 is applied with electricity by connection of the first and the second cable units 110 and 120. When only the cleaner body 30 is used, as separated from the suction brush 20, is used, the suction brush 20 is cut off with the power supply by disconnection between the first and the second cable units 110 and 120.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first cable unit 110 comprises a first terminal 111, a plug 112 and an electric wire W1. As shown in FIG. 2, the first cable unit 110 is mounted in the first socket formed in the seating guide 40.

The first terminal 111 is connected with a driving motor (not shown) transmitting the power to the rotary brush 23 and with the light 25. Also, the first terminal 111 is connected with the plug 112 through the electric wire W1.

The exterior of the plug 112 is implemented by molding of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The plug 112, as shown in FIG. 5, comprises therein a plug pin 113 connected with the electric wire W1, a pin housing 114, and a plug supporter 115. The plug pin 113 is made of an electrically conductive material.

A plurality of the plug pins 113 may be provided. In FIG. 5, three plug pins 113 are provided according to an embodiment of the present invention. The three plug pins are divided into a pin for supplying power to the driving motor which operates the rotary brush 23, a pin for supplying power to the light 25, and a ground pin. As shown in FIG. 5, the plug pin 113 is formed stepwise in the diameter in a manner that a first portion 113 a mounted in the pin housing 114 has a larger diameter than a second portion 113 b projected to the outside of the pin housing 114.

The pin housing 114 is made of a nonconductor and comprises a connection groove 114 a, a via-hole 114 b formed in the connection groove 114 a, and a support part 114 c. Being respectively received in the connection grooves 114 a, the plug pins 113 are insulated from one another. The plug pin 113 being inserted in the connection groove 114 a is passed through the via-hole 114 b and exposed to the outside of the plug 112 by one end thereof. The support part 114 c supports a stepped portion 113 c defined by the first and second portions 113 a, 113 b of the plug pin 113 so as to prevent escape of the plug pin 113 from the plug 112 through the via-hole 114 b. To this end, the via-hole 114 b preferably has a smaller inner diameter than the largest diameter of the plug pin 113.

The plug supporter 115 fixes the plug pins 113 being seated on the connection grooves 114 a and comprises plug pin supporting projections 115 a formed to correspond to the plug pins 113 and fit into the connection grooves 114 a.

Since the plug pins 113 inserted in the connection grooves 114 a are fixed between the support parts 114 c and the plug pin supporting projections 115 a, the plug pins 113 do not move during separation and connection of the plug 112. Accordingly, no load is applied to a connection point between the electric wire W1 and the plug pin 113 when connecting and separating the plug 112. After assembling sequentially the plug pins 113, the pin housings 114 and the plug supporters 115, the exterior of the assembly is overmolded so that the plug pins 113 and the electric wires W are more stably fixed. Accordingly, disconnection and short-circuit can be prevented.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the second cable unit 120 comprises a second terminal 121, an outlet 122 and an electric wire W2. As shown in FIG. 3, the second cable unit 120 is mounted in the second socket 31 formed in the cleaner body 30.

The second terminal 121 is connected with the power supply unit (not shown) formed in the cleaner body 30 to supply the power to the second cable unit 120.

The exterior of the outlet 122 is implemented by molding of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The outlet 122 comprises therein a pin socket 123, a pin socket housing 124, and an outlet cover 125. The pin socket 123 is connected with the electric wire W2.

The pin socket 123 is formed as a pipe having an inner diameter corresponding to a diameter of the second portion 113 b of plug pin 113 so as to receive the plug pin 113 therein. Also, the pin socket 123 is in connection with the electric wire W2 to be supplied with power.

The pin socket housing 124 supports the respective pin sockets 123 and determines locations for mounting the pin sockets 123. For this, the respective pin sockets 123 are engaged with seating grooves 124 a formed at the pin socket housing 124.

The outlet cover 125 comprises hollow depressions 125 a for respectively receiving the pin sockets 123 being engaged with the pin socket housing 124, thereby insulating the pin sockets 123 from one another. As shown in FIG. 6, one end 127 of the hollow depression 125 a, in which the electric wire W2 is inserted, has a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of the pin socket 123 so that the pin sockets 123 are more stably fixed.

As described above, in the second cable unit 120, when the pin sockets 123 connected with the electric wire W2 are fixed between the pin socket housing 124 and the outlet cover 125, the pin sockets 123 do not move even during separation and mounting of the plug pins 113 with respect to the pin sockets 123. Therefore, no load is applied to a connection point between the pin socket 123 and the electric wire W2 when mounting and separating the plug pins 113. After assembling sequentially the pin sockets 123, the pin socket housing 124 and the outlet cover 125, the exterior of the assembly is overmolded so that the plug pins 113 and the electric wires W are more stably fixed. Accordingly, disconnection and short-circuit can be prevented.

As can be appreciated from the description of an embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of plug pins 113 of the first cable unit 110 and the plurality of pin sockets 123 of the second cable unit 120 are connected with the electric wire W2, as being insulated from each other by the inner structure thereof, and the connection points are not exposed to the outside by covering the inner structure with the PVC molding. As a result, the load generated by frequent separation and mounting of the cleaner body 30 is not operated on the connection points between the electric wire W1 and the plug pins 113 and between the electric wire W2 and the pin sockets 123, thereby solving worry of disconnection and short-circuit at the connection points.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction brush; a cleaner body detachably mounted on an upper portion of the suction brush and having a suction fan for generating a suction force and a dust receptacle for collecting dust therein; and first and second cable units mounted in the suction brush and the cleaner body, respectively, wherein the first and the second cable units are connected so that electricity is applied to the suction brush when the vacuum cleaner is used with the cleaner body mounted on the upper portion of the suction brush, and disconnected so that the electricity is shut off with respect to the suction brush when only the cleaner body is used, being separated from the suction brush, and the first cable unit comprises, a plurality of plug pins connected with an electric wire, a pin housing having a plurality of connection grooves distanced from one another for insertion of the plug pins, and a plug supporter fixing the plug pins at the rear side of the plug pins.
 2. The vacuum cleaner of claim 1, wherein the plug pins are configured in a manner that a first portion mounted in the pin housing has a larger diameter than a second portion exposed to the outside of the pin housing.
 3. The vacuum cleaner of claim 2, wherein the connection groove includes a support part which supports a stepped portion formed on an outer circumference of the plug pin.
 4. The vacuum cleaner of claim 3, wherein the first cable unit, in which the plug pin, the pin housing and the plug supporter are assembled, comprises an exterior of molded polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
 5. The vacuum cleaner of clam 1, wherein the second cable unit comprises: a plurality of pin sockets receiving the plurality of plug pins; an outlet cover supporting one end of each of the plurality of pin sockets; and a pin socket housing supporting another end of each of the plurality of pin sockets.
 6. The vacuum cleaner of claim 5, wherein the outlet cover comprises a plurality of hollow depressions for receiving and fixing the plurality of pin sockets.
 7. The vacuum cleaner of claim 6, wherein the plurality of plug pins comprises three plug pins and the plurality of pin sockets comprises three pin sockets, wherein said three plug pins and said three pin sockets are provided to supply 3-phase induced electricity.
 8. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a suction brush; a cleaner body detachably mounted to said suction brush; a first cable unit having a pin housing around a plug pin, said plug pin being in electrical communication with a first electric wire at a first connection point, said plug pin having a first portion extending from a via hole of said pin housing and a stepped portion in said pin housing; and a second cable unit having an outlet cover around a pin socket, said pin socket being in electrical communication with a second electric wire at a second connection point, said outlet cover having an end through which said second electric wire is defined, wherein said plug pin and said pin socket are connected so that said first and second wires are in electrical communication when said cleaner body is mounted to said suction brush and are separated so that so that said first and second wires are not in electrical communication when said cleaner body is separated from said suction brush, and wherein said stepped portion of said plug pin is prevented from being withdrawn from said pin housing through said via hole so that no load is applied to said first connection point when connecting and separating said plug pin and said pin socket.
 9. The vacuum cleaner of clam 8, wherein said end of said outlet cover has a smaller diameter than an outer diameter of said pin socket so that no load is applied to said second connection point when connecting and separating said plug pin and said pin socket.
 10. The vacuum cleaner of clam 9, wherein said first cable unit comprises three of said plug pins and said second cable unit comprises three of said pin sockets. 